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***Why I want the product*** Like most women I like to wear nail polish, it makes me feel more polished especially if I am going out for the evening or if I just want to have a splash of colour around me. Manicured nails with a colour of your choice can put a smile on my face and everyone sees your hands first so why not add a splash of colour?

Until I found a fast drying top coat I rarely painted my nails but since the find I now enjoy paining my nails and enjoy being able to get on with my life quicker.

Wanting to try a cheaper brand when it comes to nail polishes I decided to try ELF and see what their polishes are like.

***Packaging*** ELF Nail Polishes come in a 10ml glass bottle with a opaque back shiny lid that looks more expensive than what I paid for it.The colour of my choice and for the Christmas season is called Liquid Metal a lovely metallic silver, I also have a red colour that ELF no longer stock.

***Applying the polish*** After a base coat has been applied now is the fun part, colour. Twisting the lid the brush is not as bad as I imaged with it being a cheap product..

Wiping off one side of polish on the bottle I can see the polish is not runny like some polishes with the price I paid but not too thick that it will not dry or go gloopy when on the nail. Yet I am amazed at the price and how high quality it is all ready and I have not used it on my nail yet. Wiping the brush over my nail once the polish gives an opaque finish that is creamy and glides over the nail without any streaks showing. With cheaper polishes in the past with the first coat you can see streaks and can tell straight away the finish result is not going to look nice, but so far I have no issues.The polish glides on evenly, once in the middle and either side is enough to cover the whole nail. The polish is easy to manoeuvre around the nail without creating any air bubbles.The polish is shiny with no brush marks left behind at all, just a professional finish. A second coat was required for me to acquire a complete opaque finish. After the second coat was applied the colour looks intense, expensive and good quality.

ELF Cosmetics polishes can be applied over natural or acrylic nails. As all polishes the scent is strong but does not linger in the air as much as other polishes I have tried in the past.

For the small amount I paid for this polish it feels like such a high end polish, it looks instantly expensive, shiny and polished. Drying time without a top coat I would say is the same as any other nail polish but a quick drying top coat or spray always helps to speed up time.

Nail polish stays wet because oxygen is all around the polish feeding it, even with a dry top coat. Any cuticle oil applied afterwards kills the oxygen which means polish drier even quicker. I find this way every time I polish my nails they are completely dry within ten minutes.

I have used different polishes in the past that start to chip within a few days, looks dull and in need to start again. With ELF polish and me not being careful with my nails the polish started to wear off within four days, which I still think is good considering I never wear rubber gloves to clean the dishes.

With any polish I would recommend topping up your top coat every three to four days to refresh the top and keep it looking glossy and strong.

The polish does not lose any colour as the days go on and the colour in the bottle is true.

***Price and availability***You can purchase these polishes from elfcosmetics.co.uk for a whopping £2.50 each.

***Any downsides?*** Not that I can think of.

***What I think about it/do I like it?*** I really am impressed with this nail polish and for the price above I think it is great value for money. If you're looking for a polish that does not cost the earth, has a nice range of colours and is good quality I would recommend looking at ELF Cosmetics polishes, as I did not think they would be as good as they are.

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***Why I want the product?***I have seen Luna in different YouTube video's and magazines and liked how it was different from the every so popular Clairsonic that I cannot afford but soon realised Luna was in the same price bracket there was no way I could try this super new way of cleaning my skin until I got to free it for under half the price thanks to BzzAgent.

***About Luna Mini?Luna Mini is a revolutionary product that has the ability to transform the look of your skin and Foreo say their Luna Mini can do this in an incredible three days.Luna Mini helps to unclog your pores that lead to impurities and eliminating the causes of blemishes. Skin appears visibly clearer and healthier looking with a glow.

Luna Mini has T-Sonic technology (or transdermal sonic to you and I), this technology pulsations through smooth silicone touch points on the device. This makes Luna Mini a new approach to skincare that is deep while being gentle at the same time. The design is travel friendly and fully rechargeable making it great for travel.Luna Mini is also waterproof so perfect while cleansing on the go.

***The Packaging***I found the packaging for Luna Mini to be the three s's stylish, sleek and simple. Clear hard oval plastic container with a flat bottom held my Luna Mini in the colour of my choice, which is purple. Opening the case I first did not realise the device was held via a clear port that resembles a charging port so be careful to pull your device straight out to avoid damage.

***Luna Mini***My Luna was a vibrant purple, which I fell in love with. If purple is not your thing you can also choose from grey, pink, red and turquoise. The device is smaller than I thought but big enough to fit comfortably in the palm of my hand, the device feels so smooth and soft, almost like velvet and the silicone pads at the front and back really are smooth and none scratchy at all, which is a big plus for my sensitive skin. The silicone pads never need replacing and are hygienic due to the pads being nonporous it does not absorb the daily dirt and grime unlike brushes can. The back sees a port hole for charging but rest assured the device is full waterproof so can be used in the shower.

***Instructions***As a brand new device for your skin and unsure how to use your product comes complete with instructions, which I found useful. You are told a little about Luna Mini, what it does and how it will benefit your skin. Foreo state to use Luna Mini for best results is to use it for no more than one minute a time and to use in upward strokes on your cheeks, forehead, nose and under the delicate under eye area. As Luna Mini has different speeds the lowest speed is recommended for the under eye. The instructions also state Luna Mini with a full charge can last up to 300 uses, which I thought was brilliant.

***Using Luna Mini***I like to use Luna Mini after I have taken my makeup off so I am cleansing my skin instead of rubbing the makeup back into my pores. The first use I was a little scared to be honest although excited as since the birth of my daughter five years ago my skin has become very sensitive at times and I am prone to breakouts now if not careful so I was a little worried. I only use Luna at night. First use: I use milk cleanser with Luna Mini and while the device is in use it felt soft against my skin and no pressure was needed as it gilded along easily. The vibrations we're relaxing my facial muscles and did not feel harsh on my skin at all. After the first use I noticed my skin felt smoother and dare I say brighter all ready?

Second use: I started to enjoy using Luna Mini so much the device turned itself off at the three minute mark but thankfully I managed to do my whole face by then but it felt so relaxing. After cleansing my face my face felt clean and not as red as it can sometimes look after cleansing. I also noticed Luna brings spots to the surface quicker due to the cleansing action which means clearer skin quicker.

Third use: This is when they say you will see the difference in use and with me still using the device only once a day as I quickly realised my skin doesn't like it twice a day. I got no reactions; skin feels soft, although there is some redness visible it is not as bad as it can be. With no makeup my skin looks clam, clean smooth and brighter. So far very happy and with only three uses.

Continual use: Continual use I can see improvements in my skin but nothing unfortunately makes me go wow this is brilliant and this is what I wanted to feel like. But I cannot deny this is a brilliant product does the job well and thoroughly. My skin goes in circles sometimes but a lot of the time now my skin is clear with the odd spot that can take ages to clear but with Luna and spot cream I have noticed the blemishes to clear quicker than before, which is a great plus for me.

***How much and where?***You can purchase Luna Mini and other devices in the same range but Luna Mini is priced at £99. You can purchase from FOREO.com or other retailers.

***Would I recommend to others?***I would recommend Luna Mini as I loved the way it makes my skin feel even after one use, no other product or device can do that for me so that was a surprise. I am enjoying the continual use and no where near out of charge yet (so I think). But the price is steep in my opinion so I would look else where or wait for it to drop in price.

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***Why I want the product***I have a real passion for hair oils, for me I feel they do wonder of good to my hair in terms of condition that I feel I cannot get with regular conditioner so I regularly turn to leave in conditioners and hair oils.I have tried different hair oils and when I realised Avon also did a hair oil I was eager to try.

***About the product*** Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave In Treatment (yes that is the full name) is said to be for all hair types and can also be used on damp or dry hair for instant shine and a smooth finish. The oil provides weightless movement and leaves no reside behind. The key ingredient is Argan Oil and Vitamin E.This product comes in a 30ml glass bottle.

***Ingredients*** Looking at the ingredients I was very surprised to see not a hint of Argan Oil in the list at all. Instead you will find silicones, emollients and a few oils in a low percentage such as Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, which is a hair conditioner. Argania spinosa Kernel Oil that is an emollient and Zea mays oil, which is also a skin and hair conditioner. Yet I see no trace of Argan Oil, which is what they are promoting that it contains and if it does contain it, Argan Oil is in a very low percentage, which in reality would do nothing for your hair.

***Packaging*** The packaging of this product is nice and not something I would expect for a cheaper product. You receive 30ml of product that is contained in a glass rectangle bottle with a turquoise pump top.

***How to use this product*** You can use this product three different ways, the first way is: After shampooing and conditioning, start with a small amount in the palm of your hand, rub both hands together so you have an even amount on both hands and work it through damp hair. Style as usual.

To control frizz and protect hair from environmental factors, apply a small amount (few drops) to dry hair as often as needed.

Before applying hair dyes prepare hair by applying approximately 5ml of Moroccanoil Oil Treatment directly on hair and gently massage the product through to enhance the hair's ability to absorb colour. Do not rinse the hair before applying colour or bleach. Add 4 to 5ml to the colour mix and continue the process as usual. This will enhance shine, elasticity and depth of colour.

***What does the product look and smell like?*** 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil has a very sweet scent that smells very organic but this could also be from the parfum that has been added to give it that scent or some plant extracts such as Zea Mays Oil. The oil looks cloudy and yellow in colour, the oil looks and feels light to the back of my hand.

***Applying the product to my, and how it feels*** With one pump it did not look enough for me and my then long hair, with my other oils I would use more so I pumped another half pump and applied it to my damp hair working it through all the way to the tip and styling as usual. Even though the scent at first is strong it diminishes when on the hair. I noticed as I was at the end of drying my hair my hair felt ever so slightly greasy and I knew it was from the oil but surprised as my other oils do not react in this way. Learning my lesson the next time I washed my hair I only did a full pump and worked that in with much better results in the end also when my hair was dry I could still smell the scent on my hair every now and then.

With all oils they boast that it will cut drying time, which in the past I have been skeptical but been wrong in the past and Avon's oil was no expectation but I feel drying time is quicker with all hair oils used.

Using Moroccan Argan Oil never makes my hair feel tangled; instead it feels soft but not as soft as other hair oils I have used in the past. I do find it works lovely on making my hair shine and kook healthy without feeling weighed down. As I can suffer from frizz hair in humidity or rainy days I find a little oil on these areas to help but it does not eliminate the frizz at all but does help to calm my hair slightly and great for hair that gets static after drying or combing.

***Price and availability*** You can purchase Avon 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil for £3.50 for 30mls from avonshop.co.uk.

***What I think about it/do I like it?*** Even though it may look like I do not like this product I actually do, I just do not like being lied to. If I purchase a product with Argan Oil I expect Argan Oil to be in the ingredient list. But I guess it is "You get what you pay for?".

This oil does make my hair feel soft, shiny and healthy looking and also seems to last such a long time even though it is only a 30ml bottle.

***Would I purchase again?*** I honestly do not know, for the price yes but for what you get in terms on ingredients, no.

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***Why I want the product*** With my pale skin I always need a blusher to make me look alike otherwise people tend to think I am feeling ill that day. Going through my blush stash I realised I do not have a baby pink blusher or a shade in that description, which would look great for a nude look or great if you pair it will a smokey eye. Something that is not in your face and does not clash with my other makeup.Because of this I headed straight to the ELF Cosmetics website as I know how good their Mineral Blushers are.

***About the product*** I love mineral products in general and went for ELF's Mineral Blusher in Joy, which on the website looks a beautiful baby pink blusher. Getting it home with it still being a lovely colour it is slightly darker than on the website but still in the shade of my choice. Joy is also the lightest shade in this range.I have another blusher from this range called Rose, which is a beautiful red with pink undertones but not in your face when applied. Gives a lovely flush of colour to the cheeks. I love the colour Rose so much I am on my second pot.

***Ingredients***As it is a mineral blusher I was interested in the ingredient list. There is nothing in the small ingredient list that I can see that can cause irritation or breakouts. It does contain Titanium Dioxide, which is known as a sunscreen and pigment.

***Packaging*** As the blusher is a mineral blusher you receive 3.4g of product, which you can see in a transparent tub with a sifter to get your product out. This blusher has a shelf life of three months but I have to day mine lasts a lot longer than that as long it is out of sun light.

***Swatching the blush*** Swatching the colour to the back of my hand I am so happy that the blush does transfer as a baby pick blusher that looks soft and natural. The blusher with a tiny amount of pigmented. On my hand it feels soft, silky and blends really well.

***Applying the product, and how it feels*** With all my blushers I use an angled blush as I find this works best for me. When I've tipped a tiny amount of product into the lid my brush picks up the product really easily

I find with ELF blushers less is more and you can end up with a lot more product on your face than you intended so it is better to build the product up a little at a time. Sweeping the blusher along my cheeks with such a tiny amount I am glad I made the right choice with the blusher and the brand as it is so pigmented, soft on my face and the shade Joy is a lovely shad of pink that really go with any outfit or makeup choice, which is what I was after and was what I received. Blending in the edges of the blusher to make it look like the flush has come from within in easy and effortless, while still providing me with the colour I desire. With the price of this blusher I would expect to pay more than what I have.

As far as I can tell the blusher has no shimmer and looks matte on me, silky on the face without scratching. I find it gives a natural flush to my cheeks without being over the top, this blusher is also buildable if you prefer to apply more. It lasts a long time on my combination skin with maybe a slight touch up in the day, but honestly I can get away without touching up at all.

Taking the blush off at the end of the day was easy, very easily removed with no traces of shimmer left on my face.

***Price and availability*** ELF Cosmetics sell this blusher and other shades for £5.00 for 3.4g of product.

***What I think about it/do I like it?*** For the price this blusher is brilliant in every way. It is easily a blusher that you can wear everyday with any look or even great for a natural look but want a flushed look. Perfect price, perfect pay off, no irritation or breakouts from this blusher.

***Would I purchase again?*** Yes I have re-purchased before and I will again.

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***Why I want the product?*** I have been after a nude eyeliner for ages to go in my lower waterline to create that wide awake look. I have been using Benefit Eye Bright but got sick of it wearing off as soon as it was put on. I wanted something to stay yet still give that awake look.Everyone in the beauty world just recently have been raving about Rimmel Kohl Waterproof Eyeliner in Nude, so I have set out on a hunt.

***About the product*** This eyeliner from Rimmel is said to be long lasting and shocking in colour if you are after one of these brighter shades. The ultra creamy formula glides on easily to create a smudge proof, sweat proof, heat proof and of cause with it being waterproof it is not going anywhere. The eyeliners are great for sensitive eyes and have been dermatologist and Ophthalmologist tested.

***What does the product look and perform like?*** Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Waterproof Eyeliner is like any other pencil eye liner but the pencil colour corresponds with the colour of your choice and as mine is colour Nude, the pencil shows this on the outside, you can also get classic black and other bright colours.

I do have sensitive eyes, if I put black eyeliner for example on my waterline they can make my eyes look smaller but I also find some eyeliners can irritate me, especially the eyeliners that are good but you either have to go over the same place over and over to get any colour payoff or they drag along my eyes but with Rimmel Waterproof Eyeliner I find I have to go over the same area at least three times to get an opaque look but I am not rubbing, the pencil just glides along so this is not a problem for me.

When applying it to my waterline, Rimmel are right, the formula of the product is creamy and it does glide on like a dream. No tugging at all required. Colour payoff, even though I have the nude colour is visible but not so in your face or fake as white eyeliner to make you look awake. Even though it was applied to my waterline the eyeliner set matte, which is good otherwise it would not stay in place as long as Rimmel claim it will. I have found with average use the eyeliner goes down evenly and does not need sharpening as much as I thought it would do with it being to creamy but if you like a pointer eyeliner than you may need to sharpen more.

When it comes to being waterproof all day is something I cannot say it will here as it does not stay on for me all day even though it is waterproof. But giving that it is creamy and a lovely nude colour to the eyes it stays on at least five hours before I notice I may have to apply a little more to give me the fresh look back I have first thing in the morning.

***Price and availability*** You can purchase Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Eyeliner from Boots.com, Superdrug.com or other beauty outlets for £3.99.

***What I think about it/do I like it?*** To say I was after a waterproof nude eyeliner to primarily to go on my waterline and for it to stay there I did not do bad with Rimmel. I find it to be a beautiful colour that looks natural and really does make my eyes look more awake and less red. I have experienced no irritation when using this product and to say it is creamy it does not wear as quickly as I thought it might making it super value for money and would recommend to others.

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***Why I want the product?***If I had to have one item in my makeup bag it would defiantly have to be concealer. I love trying new concealers of different brands but I do tend to stay away from the more cheaper brands as I feel for me they do not work well and one of them was the brand I am reviewing now.Although a cheaper brand I heard about this particular concealer from a lot of beauty bloggers and those who do videos on YouTube. They all rave about this concealer and surprisely it is from Collection.

***About this concealer***Collection 2000 is a brand that gives women the confidence to experiment with colour without the price tag. Collection allows you to have fun with fashion your own way with a range of products and shades that will suite everyone.

***About the concealer***Lasting Perfection Concealer comes in four shades that includes, fair, light, medium and deep. This concealer conceals flaws imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours. It is transfer proof and water resistant complete for a full and long coverage. It is shine free and oil free.

***Packaging***Lasting Perfection Concealer comes in a small rectangle tube with I would say 10ml of product inside (unfortunately it is not stated how much product there is. I purchased my concealer in Fair 1, which seems light in the wand and yellow toned, which is a great plus for me. The writing is in black but rubs off after a period of time.

***Using the concealer***As a cheaper brand of concealer and unscrewing off the shiny black lid I am surprised to see how creamy the concealer looks and not as runny as I first thought it would be. Fair is a great light shade that is not deceiving where you think you are getting a fair concealer but it is actually darker than you wanted, which I get a lot with cheaper or drug store brands.I use liquid concealer for my under eye area as that area for me gets so dry, redness around my nose and chin area and the occasional spot where not a lot of coverage is required.

With any concealers that come with a wand applicator I always use my own brush to apply the product, the first swipe of the concealer under my eyes sees the concealer is very opaque with a yellow undertone that can help to conceal any redness and matches my skin tone. Once I patted it gently into my skin with either my fingers or using my Beauty Blender the concealer blends so smoothly and sinks into the skin that looks flawless and does not look like I have concealer on I find that blends so nice. The tone really brightens my under eye area and although opaque I sometimes need an extra layer or on a good day I can get away with one layer.With all liquid concealers or products I need to set it with a powder to make it last all day otherwise it will slip and slide all over the place through the day. Once set with a fine powder the concealer does not cake up or look heavy. Just really natural looking concealer that is great for those no makeup look days.

With redness on my face such as around my nose, tops of my cheeks where redness can occur and my chin, again this concealer is perfect for there as it coveres redness beautifully without looking like I have a mask on. I tend not to use foundation if I can get away with it so light concealer under my eyes, on red patches and maybe some spots if I have any is all I need to feel confident to walk out of the door and this concealer helps me with that. With spots I find a few light layers works best instead of dotting product onto the area and patting it in and although it brightens the under eye area it does not do the same to spots or blemishes. It has never been drying on my skin and does not go patchy through the day.

Since I got this product it has been my to go concealer, I use it alone under my eyes and face but I also mix it in with a solid concealer for those extra imperfections that I want covering all day.

For a cheaper brand product to say it can last 16 hours is a very big claim to make. My makeup is usually on from 8am until around 7pm or longer which is a long time itself but I do find the lasting power to be pretty good considering. With my eye area if I have set it with enough powder I find Lasting Perfection can last all day and there is no need to touch up but on areas on my face that can be rubbed with clothing it comes off easily and not within Collection transfer resistant claim I have also found Lasting Perfection not to be waterproof via testing on my hand but is fine if your caught in a down pour.

***Price and availability***You can purchase this from retail stores such as Boots.com, Superdrug.com and other retail stores for £3.99.

***What do I think about it?***For a cheap concealer Lasting Perfection is known to be a great concealer in the beauty community and with good reason, it is a great concealer for those on budgets or want a decent concealer without the price tag. It can settle into fine lines if you do not set it with powder and I find the transfer resistant claim not to be true.Shade fair for me is a great light shade with yellow undertones with great coverage; it has never broken me out or caused any irritation. It has been a definite staple in my makeup bag and I am sure it will be for a long time.

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***Why I want the product?***When in school and just learning about makeup I remember using Rimmel Stay Matte Powder because it was cheap. Eventually this love went elsewhere, mostly because of me trying new products. Due to this Stay Matte Powder were a forgotten friend and one I only re-discovered two months ago and wondered why I ever forgot about this wonder product. As I have combination skin (oily in my younger years) I often find myself reaching for powder on a regular basis. I have tried high end powders to middle price powders and I find with them all by the end of the day I looked cakey and I hated it. Hearing rave reviews over and over about Stay Matte I decided to get it...again.

***About Stay Matte Powder***Stay Matte Powder is from the well publicised company Rimmel. Rimmel claim this pressed powder helps to control shine for up to twelve hours. It makes the skin look natural and not cakey looking, helping to minimise the appearance of pours and is dermatology tested.

Stay Matte Powder comes in five shades all the way from transparent, natural glow to warm beige so there is a powder for everyone.

***Packaging***Because this product is called as a drug store product you do not expect it to look glamorous or sleek looking but a packaging that does the job and I am okay with that.

With that said Rimmel Stay Matte Powder comes in a circular plastic container. The lid is see through plastic with Rimmel New Stay Matte Pressed Powder. I do not know why the packaging states this product is new as it has been around for a very long time.The back as like all products tells me about the product and what I am to expect.

As I can see the powder inside that looks like a sheer skin colour I must admit this got me slightly worried.

***Using Stay Matte Powder***Opening the lid the powder itself although transparent looks a sheer skin colour and for me with pale skin I was a little worried this was going to make me either look orange through the day or be darker than my skin tone. I also noted the powder does not have a scent.

After applying my makeup base such as concealer and foundation it is time to apply the powder to set it all and to mattify my skin. The powder feels silky soft and surprisely light weight and more importantly the powder did not alter my skin tone but I will tell more as the day goes on.As the powder touched my skin it has mattifying properties on contact without making my skin look at cakely at all even with a double layer. The powder blends in seamlessly with the makeup I have on instead of sitting on the top looking a mess.

***How did it stand through the day?***Since I have purchased Stay Matte Powder I have found myself leaving my other powders and reaching for this every single day. This is the powder I carry in my handbag and stock up on.

I have noticed since wearing this powder that the twelve hour claim is not right for me, although a big claim, on me it does not last twelve hours but more like a few hours until I have to apply another light dusting then all is fixed again. I like the fact I can apply it through the day a few times when needed and my skin never looks cakey or powdery, it actually makes my skin look flawless. Rimmel also claim Stay Matte helps to minimise pours, this is another claim I cannot vouch for as it seems to sit into my pores instead of minimising them.

Due to my combination skin some mattifying powders can suck all the oil out of my face and make my skin look dry or feel uncomfortable through the day. I never experienced this with Stay Matte. Sometimes I actually forget I am wearing it as it feels so lightweight, does not ever make my fair skin look orange and nor does it alter the colour of my base. Even though it is a very affordable product it has never oxidized on me, which is a massive plus for me and other fair skinned ladies.

I have found applying with a brush, sponge or powder puff to be fine.

***Price and Availability***You can purchase this product for £3.99 from boots.com and other similar stores for 14g of product.

***Will I purchase again?***For me Rimmel Stay Matte is going to be a staple product in my beauty bag for a long time to come. I find unlike other powders I have used in the past this is the only powder that keeps my skin matte and makes me feel comfortable and that my T-zone does not look like a shiny disco ball. There are a few negatives for me with this powder and not all claims are true for me but it does what I want it to do and that's mattify my skin. I have had my compact for around two to three months and have just hit pan and that is with use everyday up to twice a day. Stay Matte has never irritated my skin, broken me out in spots or blocked my pours. Defiantly a mattifying product I will recommend.

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***Why I want the product*** I am a concealer junkie, I have dark circles and redness that I prefer to be covered every day. I also have the odd blemish and spot now that I defiantly liked to be covered. I have been through a lot of concealers due to them not coming up to my expectations; they can either be too sheer in consistency, too dark or difficult to apply into the skin making it look unnatural. Low end concealers also tend to look orange on me instead of brightening the under eye area or covering something that I want hidden.

After my previous under eye concealer ran out I wanted to replace it but also find a new concealer at the same time. After searching long and hard and reading reviews I decided to try the new Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

***About Fit Me Concealer***Maybelline say their Fit Me Concealer is a flawless concealer that allows the real you to still shine through. It is breathable, fresh and natural looking. Great for all skin types as it contains no oils, waxes and Maybelline also say no nonsense. It provides you with a translucent base that is lightweight to allow the pigment and your natural skin to shine through while providing great coverage.

Fit Me Concealer is available in six shades that range from number 15 (Fair all the way to number 30 (Cafe).

***Packaging***This concealer comes in the same packaging like other concealers on the market. You are greeted with a 6.8ml rectangle see through tube with an opaque shiny back screw off top. The packaging looks neutral, sleek and simple. The lid screws off easily and the attached wand is the whole length of the tube so you can get every last bit of product out. The sponge applicator is soft without being scratchy or bitty.

***Applying the product, and how it feels***There is no fragrance at all associated with this concealer, which is perfect for under eye application. Even though I have shade 15, which I believe is their lightest shade it is not as light as I would have liked. It is also a little pinker than my regular concealer that is yellow toned that matches my skin tone more. But I find because I am only using this concealer primarily under my eyes the pink undertone helps to conceal dark circles better. Taking the wand out I am glad to see the concealer looks creamy and not too runny with it being a liquid as if it was too runny I would think it would not conceal anything.

Taking the concealer to the back of my hand this is where I can see just how creamy is it and also the pink undertone to my yellow undertones is noticeable. My only concern is I hope it does not oxidise orange throughout the day like some cheap concealers do but more so in foundations.My dark circles are dark due to hereditary reasons and lack of sleep (and not one for trying) so by the time I wake up my eye area can look a lot worse, I also look ill if I do not wear concealer, even on no makeup days. I have used solid or creamier concealers in the past for my under eyes and always find them to be too drying and unable to blend smoothly into my skin making that area looks even worse than it all ready is.

Using my concealer brush instead of the wand to apply to my under eye area I like how smoothly Fit Me glides on my skin. Even though it's slightly darker than my skin tone but more of a pink undertone as soon as I have blended it in my skin it looks flawless and the colour just seems to match. As the concealer is more of a liquid the coverage is also good but does require two light coats for me but when I have the second coat on the coverage is better but not brilliant as my dark circles are slightly visible. It feels very lightweight on my skin that feels like I have nothing on. When I've finished I notice the concealer looks shiny and if left can creep into any laughter lines or just crease up naturally with facial movement it is also easy to transfer if not set. Setting this concealer with power is a must to stop this from happening.

I have tried to conceal the off spot with this blemish as well with bad results. As the concealer in pink toned and I am yellow toned even when blended I can see the line where the concealer is, you can tell I have it on and you can tell it does not match. It also does not help that because it is so sheer I have to apply around three light coats in order to cover the spot adequately and to take away the redness. The end result is it looks cakey, patchy and darker than the rest of my face. I think I will stick to my regular concealer for my face.

***How did it feel throughout the day?***I usually start applying makeup in the morning around 7:15/7:30am and I do not touch up my concealer through the day at all, never have. I still find even after seven or more hours of wear the concealer is still firmly in place although a little has faded it is nothing to complain about. It has never dried or irritated my eye area at all or crease into any lines after I've set it with power. Usually with other liquid concealers they crease through the day even if I've set it and end up swiping it to get rid of the lines. I've never had to do that with Fit Me concealer and I have used it every single day for the past six weeks of use.

***How easy is it to remove?***I use a cream eye makeup remover and find Fit Me is easily removed but I do have to go over the same area a few times to make sure all is removed. However, if use an oil makeup remover it is removed within one swipe.

***Price and availability*** You can purchase this concealer from boots.com or other beauty stores for around £5.99. If you like Fit Me Concealer you can also purchase Fit Me Foundation and Powder in your colour range.

***What I think about it/do I like it?*** To say I normally do not like cheaper concealer due to oxidising, drying, no coverage, fading through the day...the list goes on. Fit Me Concealer is surprising very good I feel for the money. It has never turned orange on me believe it or not. Never dried out my eye area, only fades slightly and has great coverage to say it is so lightweight. The only bad thing is I would not use it on my face, it has to be a concealer for my eye area only.

***Would I purchase again?***I would like to say yes I would re-purchase but I also feel there are brands out there within the same price bracket that provides more coverage than Fit Me, which is sheer and the fact I cannot use it on my face means I have ti purchase a separate concealer. So I doubt I will be re-purchasing but it still is a good concealer for the money.

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***Why I want the product?***I am a person who does not usually like products in my hair like mouse, hair spray or other products as for me I do not like the way they make my hair feels, my hair does not feel clean and mostly difficult to brush so I tend to stay away from these type of products. The brand new trend, which is a powder that is meant to be rubbed into the roots for volume has never interested me although it looked easier than rollers or backcombing, which I also worry is damaging to my hair. I saw an demonstration on a beauty channel that was using a plumping powder but a different brand and the results we're amazing and the model's hair looked healthy with bounce.When Batiste sent me their brand new product XXL Plumping Powder for free I was hoping Batiste would change my mind and this product is not as bad as I imagined and to live up to the hype of their cult product Dry Shampoo and from what I had seen demonstrated.

***About the product***XXL Plumping Power is a root boosting dust that is perfect for creating an instant pluming effect. A sprinkling of this light dust is weightless and transforms your hair's texture giving maximum volume with perfect body without back-combing.

***Packaging***Like all Batiste products new design XXL Plumping Powder is sleek and looks exactly like Conditioning Mist packing with the light pink swirl design with a silver background. You see Batiste Dry Styling in the middle with a white boarder that stands out from the design itself. The matte grey plastic container contains 5g of product and expires within 12 months of opening.

***How do I use Plumping Powder?***As Dry Shampoo this Plumping Powder is just as easy to use if not easier. Start off with dry hair, opening the screw off lid and part the hair so your scalp if showing on the crown on your head and gently sprinkle a little at a time to the roots. Then massage in with your finger tips until the desired effect as been reached.

***Did it work on my hair?***As I have long hair, my hair can look lank due to the weight of my long hair and I crave for root and volume in my hair every now and then. Brushing my hair through first and parting the crown of my head on either side of my natural parting and at the back of my parting so it looks even. Sprinkling a small amount of product onto my hair the product itself is pure white and has a delicate sweet scent attached to it that is quick to disperse. The dust is very fine milled that looks like talcum powder also a little really does go a long way as the container has 12 individual holes and can come out quickly so tip the container at a slight angle and pat until some product is released instead of pouring it on as it will be too much.

Once I have sprinkled it on all the parts I want more volume I then gently brushed my hair back down and massaged my roots as directed on the packaging. Massaging the product in was a strange sensation and nothing like I have ever felt before. The dust feels very sticky with a tacky feeling, almost difficult to massage in but as I am massaging it in my roots I can see my hair being plumped up instantly and the more I massage the more volume it creates in my hair. When I had finished my hair looked knotty and stuck together, I expected it to look like a back-combed style. My hair felt so sticky that I did not like the feel of. I had to also wash my hands as they felt very sticky and dirty.Gently brushing the top layer of hair and being careful not to brush any further than the top layer so I can keep the effect without brushing it all out made my hair look nicer but there was not any volume there that blew me away.

I found it to be impossible to run my fingers through my hair without pulling some hair out or tugging like I have knots all over. My hair also felt stiff at the roots and not what I was expecting. Even though it is a strong hold product my hair lost its volume that it did have over the course of the day even though a small amount of product was applied but enough to do the job. I also found it took away the shine that I had before applying Plumping Powder. With this product when you find you want more volume or the volume has been lost you can re-activate it by massaging your hair again for instant volume but for me do not expect as much volume as when it was first applied.

Washing out thankfully was not a difficult job that I thought it would be, I thought my hair would need more than one wash to get all the product out to say how sticky it was but it washed out in one wash with no product left behind.

***Price and availability***You can purchase Batiste XXL Plumping Powder from boots.com for £3.99 for 5g of product.

***Would I purchase again?***No I would not re-purchase XXL Plumping Powder again, I did not like the sticky feeling the product gave me, there was no real volume that would make me use the product again.

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***Why I wanted this book?*** After reading the first book of Robert J. Crane called Alone, which is in the series of The Girl in the Box that is urban supernatural book I wanted to read the second part of the book (there are seven parts all together) and carry on the story that I was hooked on. I thought The Girl in the Box series would not interest me in the slightest but I find I cannot put them down and now I have read one and two I want to carry on until the end.

***About the Book*** Untouched follows the main character Sienna Nealon through her world of being a meta (super human). Finding out her powers, other metas and their powers and how to kill the ones that want to kill her.

Sienna is still haunted by the maniac called Wolfe who wanted to destroy Sienna and all that she is worth. Luckily for her it was not her who got destroyed. Sienna is still searching for her mother who she has had no contact for over six months. Sienna has been trying to put aside her personal struggles with help thanks to the Directorate who have saved her and helped her through thick and thin, even if Sienna does not always appreciate it.

Unfortunately there is no lounging around for Sienna as a new threat emerges out for her and another powerful Meta called Aleksandr Gavrikov. However, Aleksandr is such a powerful meta he can destroy whole cities in an instant, he is also hell bent on bringing the Directorate to its knees, but why?

***What the front cover is like*** Compared to Alone Book 1 where I thought the front cover did not match the story itself, Untouched does. The front cover is dark and seems dangerous with a figure to the left that looks like a man covered in flames from head to toe. He does not look scared or that he is hurting. The right hand side of the man sees flames rising from below uncontrollable. The figure in flames is a good look of the one and the only Aleksandr.

***The story*** The story begins with Aleksandr as a boy in his family home, this is not a happy family. Aleksandr's father would often beat Aleksandr in the day and at night when he was drunk he would then take it out on Aleksandr sister. When Aleksandr could not stand the beating anymore of his sister and himself he would often take his anger out on his father and give him a piece of his own medicine. Aleksandr inherited his father's gift, the power of flight. But his father did not have Aleksandr's gift and that was touch of death like Sienna. There is a difference though, when Aleksandr gets angry his body gets hotter until his body bursts into flames covering him from head to toe killing those in an instant who comes into contact with him. With Wolfe dead, thanks to Sienna and her powers that came to light just in time she also finds out when she kills she drains their soul, which gives her a lovely new gift that is not good for her or the Directorate. As Sienna thinks she is going crazy she keeps a few secrets away from the Directorate as lets face it she does not trust them 100% and what if they think she is mad?

Facing her own demons of guilt, hatred for herself, coming to terms with her brand new powers, fighting nearly everyone who she comes into contact with, breaking a lot of bones and having no mum to comfort her it is no wonder Sienna is going off the rails a little. She longs to be normal, go to a restaurant, and go shopping like normal girls can. Thankfully a lovely agent was on hand to do just that, and she loved every single moment of it, maybe a little too much.

Why is the book called Untouched? As a meta who cannot touch a single person without killing them it is no wonder Sienna lacks comfort from others, she has never kissed anyone, hugged anyone or touched anyone without her body being fully clothed under thick clothing, until something she longs for happens.

***The twist*** From the beginning it is clear Aleksandr's head is messed up due to his father and out of temper Aleksandr manages to kill his father but also be believes he killed his beloved sister at the same time. Unable to control his guilt over 100 years later, Aleksandr is back and he wants his sister or who he believes is his sister and he will not stop until he gets her back. Remember Sienna longed to be loved? Well romance might be in the air with an agent but we will see how that plans out.

There is lots more that happens but I do not want to spoil it all for you.

***What did I think about it?*** As the first book Alone I thought I would not like it but could not put it down, it seems Untouched has the same affect on me. The author did not disappoint when it comes to his imagination, to draw the reader in and keep them there.

I find the plot easy to follow and the characters are described well and thought of. The Girl in the Box series is additive and will leave you wanting to know more.

***Price and availability*** I downloaded this book via my e-reader from Amazon.co.uk for £2.99. Paperback version is priced at £8.36.

Want to purchase others? I found out there are also another seven books to The Girl in the Box series.

***Extra information*** The Girl In The Box: Untouched Book 2 has 208 pages File size to download is 525 KB It was published in 2012

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***Why I wanted the product?***Before Batiste sent me their brand new product called Smoothing Conditioning Mist for free to review I had never heard of it before, at first I thought it was like their dry shampoo and did not realise what the difference was or if I even needed it. I was wrong.Even though my hair is long and quite thick, my hair is prone to frizz, dry ends that split easily (even though I love my conditioners and hair treatments). I also get bits that fly away and hard to control. Luckily Batiste says they can help me with this problem with their new product.

Usually I would not purchase anything like this as I love my hair oils and would never be without them. I also use my hair oil on dry hair to give my hair that extra shine and boost that it needs so Batiste has a challenge on their hands if they want me to like this product just as much as my oils.

***About the product***Batiste say their Daily Conditioning Mist is perfect to use on days on washed hair or after to be used on dry hair. Use on days when your hair needs extra conditioning, Smoothing Conditioning Mist helps smooth away fly-always and helps to nourish hair giving your hair that just washed, healthy shiny look. The product is none greasy, hair feels noticeably shiner, smooth and manageable.

***Packaging***Like Batiste new Strength and Shine Dry Shampoo Conditioning Mist has the same sleek new design. You receive 200ml in the aerosol container that seems to be aimed at all ages now instead of just teenagers. The design at the front sees light pink swirl design that scrolls from top to bottom with a grey background that compliments the design nicely. You see Batiste Dry Conditioner written in the middle cascaded in a white boarder and Smoothing Conditioning Mist in a pink bubble below it. The front states the conditioner is also enriched with Argan Oil, which interests me even more. A grey snap on cap completes the product.The back tells me about the product and how to use with picture diagrams for ease of use.

***So how do I use it?***As with other Batiste products Conditioning Mist is no different to use. Batiste say always shake the can vigorously before use. Keeping the nozzle around 30cms away from the hair and spray into lengths and ends of hair, not the roots. Brush thoroughly and style as usual.Brushing my hair first to make sure there are no tangles beforehand, tilting my head and letting my hair drape down I found is the best technique for me, spraying Conditioning Mist around 30cms away from my hair, then giving the can a good shake I am finally able to spray the product onto my hair. Just like other Batiste products the nozzle is quick to release bursts of product, but spraying it out evenly across my hair and not in one lump like some cans can. For me Conditioning Mist has a light, delicate floral scent that calms down a lot when brushed onto the hair. Like Batiste other products that come out white/grey in colour, this product is no exception so on my dark brown hair this can seem a little frightening at first but rest assured I found Conditioning Mist easier to brush out than their dry shampoos. Because it is a conditioning product I found it very easy to brush out, no tangles and no residue left behind as the product is dry to the touch.The nozzle sprayed the product evenly and where I wanted it to be without it being too much.

***Did it work on my hair?***Batiste say to wait one minute until the desired result can be seen to its full effect but to me I can see it instantly when I have brushed my hair through. I can go from okay hair that does not look greasy or anything but sometimes lacks shine to hair that looks noticeably healthy, shiny, conditioned, no weighted down and with more bounce than I had before.This product never left my hair with a greasy feeling, my hair felt soft to the touch and easy to brush through without a hint of product insight once it has been rubbed into my hair properly.With frizz and fly-aways I found it worked great on fly-aways but not so much on the frizz side.

With Conditioning Mist I have found my hair still look shiny at the end of the day without any horrible dry feelings that can sometimes happen with dry products. It comes out with one wash leaving no residue or build up behind.

***Is there any negatives?***Yes I would have to say one, Batiste tell you on the front of the packaging that it contains Argan Oil that helps to condition your hair. But on the ingredient list Argan Oil is known as Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and while this is a good ingredient for hairs health it is also ninth on the ingredient list (half way down). This says to me as the active ingredient there is not a lot of this ingredient in the product. With active ingredients the lower down the list the less potent it is but as it is on the list Batiste can claim it, even if it is a small amount.

***Price and availability***You can purchase this product from boots.com or other stores such as Superdrug, Tesco and other stores but prices may vary. I have seen this product for sale for £3.99 from boots.com

***Would I purchase again?***Yes this is a product I probably will purchase again in the future, yes I love my hair oils and nothing can ever take them away from me but I also love the idea of spraying and go and you know your hair is being conditioned at the same time and at an affordable price, who can complain?

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***Why I wanted this book?*** This book was like no other book I had been interested in before, why? Because the cover was not girly and did not seem appealing to me but rather like normal people who want to read a book look at the description before they decide if it is right for them or not, so I did.

After finding this book while searching on Amazon I first thought judging by the cover it looked like a true story, which does not always appeal to me as I find some true stories upsetting so I tend to stay away from them. But reading the description I soon found it was not a true story and not a book I would be interested in but downloaded it anyway.

***About the Book*** Alone is based around the main character Sienna Nealon, who at seventeen years old had become a prisoner in her own home. Her Mum kept Sienna under lock and key for twelve years. When Sienna's Mum vanished with no trace, Sienna woke up in her house to find two strange men walking around her home, wanting Sienna.

Going on the run Sienna did not know who to trust or who to turn to, however, as a bonus she soon discovered she had magical powers. Upon that Sienna finds herself pursued by an agency also known as the Directorate but as Sienna is hunted by a vicious psychopath called Wolfe you know it is time to move on.

***What the front cover is like*** To me this book could pass off as a true story front cover with a blue background of glittery snow and hills in the background with a girl to the left with her back towards us with the words Alone written in the middle, you would also think it was a true story of neglect, but no.

***The story*** The story starts off with Sienna waking up in her home, alone with two strange men after her. With her Mum missing she was to defend for herself, but there are a few problems here. Sienna's Mum has been that strict with her upbringing she never let Sienna out of the house for more than ten years. Sienna had never seen another human before, apart from on the TV so Sienna understandably did not know how to react to strangers in her house without her Mother to help. But Sienna did know one thing and that was how to fight. As it was dark in the house at the time the strangers in her home could not see which way to turn that give Sienna her chance to make her move. Out of the house? Not just yet as this was rule number 2, never leave the house. What happened to rule 1? Rule 1 is to never let strangers into the house. Well that is two rules broken in quick time. Luckily Sienna's eskrima sticks and batons we're nearby to revenge her attack. Sienna's Mum taught her martial arts for two hours every day so she knew how to handle these weapons with ease, knocking both men down in quick time Sienna made her move. The two men trying to catch her we're called Oldie or Kurt Hannegan and Zack Davis. And the other rules? Rule number 3, do not open the curtains, of course I did periodically just to see what it was like outside. Rule number 4, always be fully dressed even down to gloves on at all times and rule number 5, no talking to the outside world.

Reed is the person she got into the car with and Sienna believed she could trust him, but after a while she was not so sure even herself. Along the line Wolfe catches up with Sienna and Reed, who is Wolfe exactly? Okay, Wolfe is an Extra Powerful Meta Human of course who is stronger than Reed and the agents after Sienna. What is Meta Human? We will get back to that shortly. This point in time sees some passers by helping Sienna who right now is up in the air due to Wolfe having a strong grip on her throat. Unfortunately due to Wolfe's strength the two have a go heroes passed away. Even though Sienna even shot Wolfe the bullets did not make a dent to him apart from a dart that was sticking out of his leg. Waking up in a strange room, scared, unable to comprehend what had happened and about her medical condition as she was in no fit state to be going anywhere after what Wolfe did to her. Wrapping the bandages off her neck that were three layers deep revealed Sienna's skin was flawless, not a cut in sight. Ariadne, who is Chief of Operations for the Proverbail or Directorates. Meta Human's like Sienna have powers beyond that of a normal human and they want to help, or have her for themselves for their own duty. Turns out Sienna's Mum was also a very powerful meta human.

***The twist*** With Sienna thinking she is safe in the hands of the Directorates but still unable to come to terms of what happened to her, who to trust and of course where on earth is her Mother? Wolfe is no nice guy, and he wants Sienna at all costs but how far will he go to get her and what does he want with her? And most importantly will Sienna ever be able to kill Wolfe once and for all?

***What did I think about it?*** At first no I was not interested in this book but I thought once I had started to read it I would get into it more and enjoy it, even if I did find it a bit weird and not to my liking. But the thing is I could not put this book down and wanted to know about Sienna when she also knew about herself.

I like the way the author J Crane Robert wrote the book to you from Sienna's prospective throughout the book so you knew things and understand situations when Sienna did. You got to understand her thoughts on being a Meta Human, about her Mum and all the agents that died trying to help her. Although Sienna tried to be strong and thinking she can take everyone on, she is also a girl who is lost, scared and trying to figure out her way in the big wide world that she has never seen before without the people around her who love her the most. A book that I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

***Price and availability*** I downloaded this book via my e-reader from Amazon.co.uk for £0.00, that is right, nothing. Although it is actually worth £8.49 so for a free book I guess I could not argue.

Want to purchase others? I found out there are also another seven books to The Girl in the Box series.

***Extra information*** The Girl In The Box: Alone Book 1 has 182 pages File size to download is 668kb It was published in 2012

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***Why I wanted this book?*** I am a sucker for girly book covers as to me it screams everything I want in a book. Marian Keys is a good example of this and I love all her books. Whenever I see a girly book cover I know it is going to be a good I am going to enjoy, but not all the time.

The cover is what I noticed with Love, Lies and High Heels in Amazon.co.uk, it screamed I would like it. Unfortunately Debby Conrad is also an author I had not read before and was intrigued into seeing what this book would be like.

***About the book*** The book description was interesting to me and not something I have read before. It is all based on the character Luke Galloway and Rusty Paris, who is Sam's long lost daughter. Luke is Sam's business partner who wants to get back in contact with Paris, Sam's long last daughter. But Sam believes the only way to make Paris to come back to him is to lie, but how far does he go?

***What the front cover looks like*** As with most books this is what first attracts me and I know from a cover if I am going to enjoy a book or not. Love, Lies and High Heels is a great name I think anyway and got me thinking about the book, the cover itself did not actually grab my attention as much as the title did. The cover on first impressions seemed old and not a book I would be interesting in reading but looking further into the book I came to realise the cover is actually quite fitting.

The front sees a woman's body from the waist down wearing a silk purple dress and high heels (of coarse) while the right hand side sees a pair of cowboy boots and a cowboy hat all linked in a pale yellow background.

***The story*** The story starts with one of the main characters, Rusty Paris. Rusty was pushed off to boarding school when she was very young due to her parents divorce. Rusty's Mum took the divorce hard and spent her time as a hobby by marrying rich men. Rusty often thought about her father but he never made an attempt to contact her in twenty-one years so Rusty thought he did not care about her. Due to Rusty's upbringing Rusty loved the high life and often spend hundreds even thousands of pounds on her shoe and clothes collection. Rusty lived in a spotless house with maids to cater for her every need. She enjoyed dining at post restaurants and the best food money can buy. Sam saw his daughter at a funeral but decided not to talk with her; Sam does not like confrontations or arguments so left it as that. Of course Rusty thought her father wanted nothing to do with her, which would make anyone sad.

Sam obviously wanting to get back in touch with his daughter but of course he could not do it the normal way, oh no he decided to send his business partner Luke all the way to track Rusty down and give her the devastating news that will change her life forever. Luke is a cowboy, he works on the 'ranch' with his business partner and dear friend Sam Paris, he does not have the time to be patient with Rusty and her rich heiresses ways. The first time Luke and Rusty meet they clash like you would expect them to however, there is a catch, it seems that Luke has the hot's for Rusty, but would not dream of telling her, of course. Rusty considers Luke nothing more than a low life ranch hand who enjoy nothing more than riling her temper. On the other hand Luke considers Rusty to be arrogant and prissy in her ways.

**The twist*** There is always a twist in a book and this is no exception, this book is a true romantic book in, which you can see what is happening and what the characters are thinking throughout without the other characters knowing the full story of their actions. Rusty's father is holding a big secret and also has an admire for himself but is Sam about to blow his chances of happiness with the lie he has told to everyone? Even though I enjoyed the twist, unfortunately it is something you could see coming and did spoil the book a little.

***What did I think about it?*** I like the way the book is written as Debby lets you inside the minds of Luke and Rusty all the way through the book. You get to see their differences of opinions and how their words get out of context easily and out of hand even though they are both thinking the same thing but cannot seem to say it to each other.

Even though the book is based around romance, Debby for me has an unique style of writing that walks you through each character's live and through their journey when you are also viewing it. Debby takes you through the high and lows of the characters and even their funny moments. With most romance based books you will find some raunchy moments within the book but it is nothing like Fifty Shades so if you do not like that type of book then you will enjoy Love, Lies and High Heels. The characters are a little hard to believe but isn't this what a book is about? It is a great read and a book that is hard to put down until it is finished. I found for me this book left me wanting more; find out how the characters progressed etc as a lot happened within all the characters in the end.

***Price and availability*** I purchased this book from Amazon.co.uk (Kindle version) for free at the time. The price has now gone up to £1.94 includes VAT. To me this is a fantastic price for such a good read.

***Extra Information*** Love, Lies and High Heels has 243 pages to enjoy. File size to download is 344kb. It was published on 14th April 2012.

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***Why I want the product*** I am a person who tends not to like much product in my hair as I feel it weighs my hair down, my hair can look greasy with it being dark easier with product and I just do not like the feeling of feeling product in my hair either. My hair type is greasy at the scalp while dry at the ends, washing every other day I find is significant enough for me and means I am not washing all my natural oils down the sink every day. There are day's in-between washes that I am to wash my hair in the evening but I want my hair to look more alive, healthy, shiny and clean looking in the day without washing and it was not until dry shampoo was born did I know about this wonder product. Yes there was the time of talcum powder but those days are truly well and gone. Thank you to Batiste I was able to try this product for free.

***About the product*** Batiste say they are the experts in styling between washes. We have created a range of dry styling products they are perfect for every hair type or colour. Our range instantly refreshes your hair between washes, leaving it clean, fresh and with added body and texture.

Batiste say their starch based formulation, which means that no water is needed adapts to your hair's needs while targeting excess oil and grease, helping to boost body and giving your hair the makeover it deserves. With a large section to choose from there will always be a Batiste product for you.

***Packaging*** I received my Strength and Shine Dry Shampoo from Batiste and to me the packaging looks a lot sleeker than the original, which seems to be aims at teenagers. Their new one seems to be aimed at all ages, which makes it more of a joy to pick up.

The aerosol container contains 200ml of product. As the can is this time aimed at all ages it has a simple and sleek design of greens going down the can in a swirl motion within a grey background. The can is complete with a snap on grey plastic lid. As all Batiste products the back tells you a little about the product, how to use and pictures of use to go with it.

***How do you use it?*** As most brands of products today the instructions of use are displayed on every can on the back, Batiste say: Step 1 shake the can vigorously and spray Batiste into the roots while keeping the nozzle away from the hair of around 30cms. Step 2, massage the product into the roots with your fingertips, Step 3, and simply brush your hair, style as usual. Easy.

As I have long hair I like to brush my hair first before spraying Batiste otherwise I have noticed when I brush my hair after my hair can get a little knotty. With my three day old hair directing to spray nozzle to my roots at first, shaking the can as much as I can, holding the can around 30cms away from my head then spraying lightly over my crown. When pressing the nozzle it is quick to realise product but gives my head a light coating of the product, as soon as the product is realised you can smell the fresh and highly sweet fragrance. Due to having dark brown hair the product when used can be a little scary as it comes out almost grey coloured, I always worry that I am going to be left with grey looking roots even when rubbed in. The product feels cool to the touch when rubbing the product into my hair and seems to give my root area slight lift; also I notice the fragrance is no longer detected or very slight fragrance left, which I like. Once the product has been rubbed into the root area I am then left to brush my hair through, which also makes sure the product is distributed evenly. I find the product sprays through the nozzle evenly and where I want it to be. There are no splatters or bigger clumps of product than other areas. When I have finished spraying the root area I then give the rest of my hair a quick spray.

To me the product never feels wet on my hair, even after the first spray it is instant dry. I would also go as far as saying Strength and Shine Dry Shampoo feels lighter on my hair than the original dry shampoos from Batiste.

***How did it work on my hair?*** The results with Batiste are instant, I can go from having dull, lifeless, no shine and greasy hair to hair that shines, full of life with no grease in sight in a matter of seconds. I find my hair texture and the difference to my hair quality improved without the need of a full blown wash. My hair looks like it has just been washed. But more importantly I cannot feel any product in my hair even when I run my fingers through my hair. I only have to use it once in the morning and the product keeps working all day so there is no build up in my hair and in the evening I find the product is easily washed out with one wash.

***Price and Availability*** You can purchase this product from all good boots stores and online for £3.99, other shops prices may vary but be around the same price.

***Would I purchase again?*** Yes I would purchase again, I like the idea of giving my hair a quick wake up before the next wash without walking around with dull looking hair, why not fake it, no one will ever know. Although I do not use this all the time before every wash I like to use it on days I feel my hair needs a little more and it works perfectly for that purpose.

The only thing I do not like is the white/grey powder that is left on my hair. With dark brown hair I find it takes awhile to rub the product in perfectly so I do not look like I have grey roots but this is the only problem I have with it but it is not just Batiste, all dry shampoos are the same even the ones meant for dark hair I have found.

Advantages

Disadvantages

***Why I want the product***I typically have dry, dehydrated under eye area that can look worse when I try to hide it with concealer, fatigue also shows on my eyes and can often feel sore. I have tried products in the past formulated especially to hydrate the under eye, brighten and refresh, typically the claims are soon thrown in the bin as they simply do not perform as they are meant to.

Due to the many moisturisers, eye creams and gels not performing I decided to look for my first high end eye cream and I expected miracles. I expected all my expectations to be ticked and most of all I expected what Lancome say to be actually true in their claims unlike others I have used in the past.

***About Lancome Eye Contour Gel Cream***Lancome say this soothing eye cream helps to reduce the appearance of signs of fatigue around the eye area. Skin is left nourished with moisture and feels smooth to the touch. Puffiness around the eyes are also diminished.

Neurocalm is a skin soothing concept that neutralises the effects emotional and environmental stress on the skin and soothes the delicate eye area.Reduction of puffiness: Specific active ingredients were selected to promote the skin's microcirculation and draining mechanism in order to significantly reduce puffiness.Intense hydration: Powerful moisturising agents provide intense hydration to smooth dehydration lines.

***Packaging***The product comes in a clean white looking rectangle cardboard box with Lancome Paris at the top in their logo and the name of the product in the middle.The back of the box tells you a little about the product and the side shows you the long list of ingredients. Inside the box you will find a leaflet on the product and how to apply, which is a nice touch but I feel unnecessary.

The product itself comes in a 15ml rectangle bottle that incorporates the same design as the box with a bright, clean and fresh white background with the same writing on the box to the product. The top sees a clear pull off lid so you can see the chrome looking pump.You can tell the product looks expensive but the proof is always inside for me and how it performs.

***What does it look and smell like?***Pumping one pump to the back of my hand I am surprised at how much one pump produces for an eye cream. I would say it is the size of a slightly smaller pea, which I feel is a lot for the eye area. The product looks creamy white and more gel like in texture than a cream. Once sheered out it goes clear and dries clear. There is no fragrance as it is fragrance free, which is great for a lot of people out there who have sensitive eyes like me.

***Directions of use***Taking a small amount of the product to cleansed face and eye area, apply a small amount using your ring finger to your eye contour area morning and evening if desired. Patting all around until the product has sunk in.

***How does it feel on the skin and How did it perform?***Applying Lancome Eye Contour Gel Cream in the morning, on contact it feels cooling, which helps to de-puff from the night's sleep, it feels refreshing on the skin while being silky/smooth that helps to moisturise that my eye area craves for.The first time in the morning I applied the whole one pump around my eye contour area and although it felt nice it look a while to sink in even though it was a light-ish layer with it being a gel/cream I would have thought it would sink in very quickly. For me I had to keep patting it into my skin until it was absorbed as much as it could.After 2 to 3 minutes of patting the product gently in my eye area it looked smooth and felt hydrated. 10 minutes later from my other skincare until I applied my makeup, I came to apply my concealer, which sat fine until I came to buff the product in. The eye cream seemed to lift off on contact with other products, balled up until I rubbed what felt like the entire product. Taking it all off and applying another eye cream and re-application of my concealer I had no problems. I thought it might have been because I applied too much.

That evening applying the product again, this time I applied half a pump for both eyes, which seemed more appropriate. This time the product sank in a lot quicker and felt nice on my skin again but again if I applied another product on top or even rubbed my eye area the product would ball up like it does not sink in properly and merely sits on top surface of the skin.

Waking up each morning, looking at my eye area I expected to see the results that I was promised, hydrated under eye, signs of fatigue diminished, no puffy eyes, the effects being neutralised by emotional stress and environment stress on the skin and fine lines pumped as they are so hydrated with moisture. Instead I did not see any of this, instead over a space of a week I noticed results that I was not expecting at all from a high end brand. Instead of thinking what I was going to get I ended up with my eye contour area becoming drier to the point I would have to apply extra moisturiser to my eye contour or apply another eye cream on top of Lancome eye Gel Cream, which is defeating all objects. Lancome claims this eye cream is formulated with powerful moisturising agents that work instantly to smooth the appearance of dehydration; I did not see or feel any of this benefit. My tired looking eyes are still tired looking and everything else Lancome claimed I did not see.

It simply does not moisturise my under eye enough, under eye still dehydrated which is accentuated when concealer is applied as it looks rough, dry and patchy to the point where I have to mix another cream eye cream in with my concealer just so I have enough moisture.I applied it in the day when I was not wearing any eye makeup to just refresh my eye area as Lancome claims it helps with eyes that suffer from fatigue, I did not notice any difference here.

Because of the price I was not going to throw it away but I also could not wait for it to run out, 15ml of product lasted me around three months using it morning and evening with half a pump each time. The only thing I did like was the pump, hygienic, that is all I have to say. I could not use the cream when I was wearing makeup as it would ball up or make my eyes look worse so in the end I used it at night but mixed in another creamier eye cream with it just to use it up.

***Price and Availability***If you want to purchase this you can get it from lancome.co.uk for £32.00, feelunique.com £32.00 plus free delivery or from 123hairandbeauty.co.uk £26.75 plus free delivery.

***Would I purchase again?***No, for the price I paid I honestly expected a lot better, just goes to show expensive does not always mean better. Since this I bought an eye cream for less than £5 and I absolutely love it.Since the problems I have been experiencing with this product I have seen I am not the only one who feels the same way.